The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health,
safety and welfare of the residents of the Town of Royalton by regulating
the operation of snowmobiles on public highways of the Town in a manner
which will be compatible with the use of such highways for vehicular
and pedestrian traffic, and which will promote the safe and proper
use of snowmobiles.
Operation of snowmobiles on highways of the Town is subject
to Title D of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law,
the rules and regulations of the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation regarding snowmobiles, and the provisions of this chapter.
A. All Town highways and county highways in the Town of Royalton are
hereby designated to be uncongested highways and, therefore, the operation
of snowmobiles on the inside banks and shoulders thereof is permitted
as authorized by Title D, Article 25, of the Parks, Recreation and
Historic Preservation Law. Notwithstanding the designation of county
highways as uncongested highways, no person shall operate a snowmobile
on a county highway in the Town until such time as the Niagara County
Superintendent of Highways shall also designate the county highways,
or particular county highways, as being uncongested and suitable for
snowmobile use as authorized by § 25.09 of the Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation Law.
B. No highways in the Town of Royalton are designated as customarily
unplowed and no person shall be permitted to operate a snowmobile
on the roadway of a Town highway unless so authorized under Title
D of the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law.
Whenever operation of a snowmobile is permitted on the shoulder
or inside bank of any Town highway as provided in this chapter, the
following conditions and restrictions are hereby imposed on all such
snowmobile operators:
A. No person shall operate a snowmobile on any Town highway unless he
or she is 18 years of age or meets the conditions of PHRPL § 25.19.
B. No person shall operate a snowmobile on any Town highway unless said
vehicle is equipped with head and tail lights, both of which are illuminated,
brakes a muffler and reflector material as required by PRHPL § 25.17.
C. No person shall operate a snowmobile on any Town highway except on
the right side of the highway and in the same direction as the flow
of traffic.
D. No person, be he owner or operator, shall leave or allow a snowmobile
to be left unattended on any Town highway while the motor is running
or with the key for starting the same in the ignition or elsewhere
in the snowmobile.
E. Every person operating a snowmobile on any Town highway shall observe
all vehicular traffic signs and signals and all other rules and regulations
applicable to vehicular traffic and shall obey the orders and directions
of all law enforcement officers authorized to direct and regulate
traffic.
F. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a snowmobile on any
road or highway within the Town unless the owner or operator of such
snowmobile is insured against public liability and carries with him
proof of financial responsibility as required by PRHPL § 25.13.
Such proof shall be displayed by the owner or operator of any snowmobile
upon request to any law enforcement officer or to any person who has
suffered or claims to have suffered either personal injury or damage
to property as a result of the operation of such snowmobile by any
such owner or operator.
Failure to comply with any provision of this chapter shall be
deemed a violation and the violator shall be liable to a fine of not
more than $250, 15 days’ imprisonment, or both, for each offense.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon its filing in
accordance with the provisions of § 27 of the Municipal
Home Rule Law; provided, however, that no snowmobile shall be operated
under the provisions hereof until such time as the signs and markers
are installed or constructed in accordance with Title D of the Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation Law and the rules and regulations
of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
and the Department of Transportation.